by Griff Hosker
He was impressed by my castle. We awaited the ferry and he commented upon it. “The river is wide here, Earl. You have strong walls.”
“They were stronger, King Henry, but your father and Bishop destroyed them. They will do. So long as the Scots are at peace then they will be adequate enough.”
My wife and family were waiting to greet us. The day, which had begun cold at East Harlsey, had warmed up but there would be another chill in the air come evening. My wife and my daughters were well wrapped. The King had a riding cloak wrapped around him as did William. He did not look like a king. My wife rushed to me as I stepped ashore and hugged me, “I have missed you husband!” She kissed me hard and I saw my daughters grin.
“And I have missed you too, my love.” I gestured with my arm, “May I introduce King Henry of England and his knight Sir Robert. They will be our guests for a while.”
My wife glowered at me and then curtsied, “Your Majesty, this is an honour.” She rose and said, more to me than the King, “Had I been warned of your imminent arrival then I could have prepared rooms.”
“I do not need to be pampered, my lady. Your husband has been teaching me to be a warrior.”
I suddenly realised who was missing, “Where is Aunt Ruth? She is not ill, is she?”
“No, my husband, she is with Lady Matilda. Your Aunt is teaching her. The two get on. We have much to tell you but that can wait until we have made our guest comfortable.”
She and my daughters scurried ahead. Alfred clasped my arm and bowed to the King, “You are in such trouble now, father! You should have sent a rider to warn us!”
I knew he was right, “I know but we have had much to occupy us since we left London.”
King Henry was confused and it showed upon his face, “You are Earl. You should not have to worry about such trivia.”
“King Henry you will learn that I may be master of the valley but like all husbands I am not master of my own home.”
“My father did not worry what my mother thought!”
I said nothing but, in my mind, I reflected on the fact that the Queen had wasted no time in quitting England and remarrying. It spoke volumes for the marriage. Mine was built on firmer foundations and I would not change my wife for the world. We headed through the gate into the inner ward. I pointed out the defensive features. I compared my castle with the Tower and the other castles through which we had passed. King Henry later forgot many of the lessons I taught him but he never forgot the strength of a castle. He was mightily interested and we spent some time in the inner ward. My wife had gone through like a whirlwind. People scurried hither and thither. She was a clever woman and knew that the King would have men and servants with him. It was not just accommodation for the King which she needed.
Geoffrey, my Steward, was waiting for us in the Great Hall. “My lady has given me instructions, lord, I am to take the King and his knight to his chambers so that he may cleanse himself after his journey. Until his servants are ferried across I have men who will wait upon him.”
“Thank you, Geoffrey.” I turned, “William go with Geoffrey and the King. When you get to the chamber see if your mother has forgotten anything.”
He nodded and laughed, “Unlikely but I will do so. I can continue to show the King our home!” My son was easy in the King’s company. It would be good for them both.
I could see that Alfred was desperate to speak with me. I poured us both a goblet of wine. “Go on then, speak that which is on your mind and about to flood from your mouth.”
“I am to be wed! Matilda will have me as her husband.” I nodded and sipped my wine. His face clouded over. “Are you not happy? Mother is happy as are my sisters. Rebekah… I will let her tell you.”
“Alfred, Matilda is my ward and I have certain responsibilities. You cannot decide that you wish to marry her and then just do so. There are laws and there are conventions.”
His voice became hard, “You would stop this? I...”
I held up my hand and my voice became the voice I used on the battlefield, “Hold there and do not say anything that you may regret. I did not say that I would prevent the marriage but I am disappointed that you did not do as I asked before I left. I said to speak with me when I returned. You should have asked my permission. Now, calmly, speak with me.” I nodded, encouragingly.
He seemed confused then realisation dawned, “My lord, I would wed the Lady Matilda.”
I smiled, “That is better. First I will speak with the King and then with Lady Matilda.” I saw him flush again. “The King is the one who ultimately decides what happens to the wards.”
“But he is not even a knight!”
“Yet he is King and we will do this properly.” I pointed to the walls. “My great grandfather did not ask permission to build this castle. When a new King came to the throne then it was pulled down. Now do you understand? We have to do things properly or risk the wrath of a monarch. If not this one then another.”
“I think I understand.” He finally drank some wine. “What is the King’s business here in the north, my lord?”
“He comes with me on a progress. There are lords who oppose him. We defeated one at Newark and I am hoping that the example will make the others fall in line. We go north to see de Vesci and de Percy. They bear grudges.”
He shook his head, “Eustace de Vesci was killed at Barnard Castle. The news only reached us two weeks since. His son is a minor and has been placed with William Longespée, Earl of Salisbury. There is now just Thomas de Percy and I think that he will be less belligerent now that his ally is no longer with us.”
“And all else is well?”
He smiled, “All else is well and I am sorry for my temper. I am eager to be wed.”
“For the manor?”
He shook his head, “I care not if we have to live here so long as we are married.” I nodded. He added, “But I would like a manor!”
“We will be riding tomorrow. You can come with us. Go and tell David of Wales and Henry Youngblood to prepare for a ten-day journey.
I spoke with the King when he descended and he, of course, agreed immediately. We both spoke with the Lady Matilda while my aunt looked on. It was clear to me that Lady Matilda was smitten by my son and that made me happy. I knew of many loveless marriages. Sometimes they endured. The people in them were wracked with torment. Lady Matilda hurried off to speak with Alfred and my wife.
Aunt Ruth looked the King up and down. She put her hands on her hips, “And are you going to be a good king like your namesake or will you be a tyrant like your father?”
Poor King Henry did not know what to say. He almost cowered before my Aunt’s gaze.
I said, hurriedly, “Your Majesty must excuse my aunt. She thinks that because she rules this roost she rules England too!”
She shook her head, “Thomas, I have lived too long to worry about upsetting little boys, even if they are King of England. I knew your father when he was your age. He was spoiled and unpleasant. I am hoping that you are different. Is he Thomas?”
She was digging a hole not only for herself but for me too. “I did not know King John as a child but as William Marshal has asked me to mould King Henry into a monarch then I believe that you can trust me to do so. He will be a good man and he is learning.”
Having seen me bear the brunt of my aunt’s tongue King Henry gained confidence. “And I will continue to learn but know this, my lady, I will be King and I will rule this land. Some may not like the way I rule. If I could please everyone then I would be pleasing no one for my land and people are all different. I have seen that in my progress north.”
She beamed, “Good! Stand up to the old witch! Your father would have run away crying for his mother! She spoiled him. I have high hopes for you. Now come Thomas, give your aunt a hug and a kiss. I have missed you and such reunions will be fewer in future.”
Geoffrey came in, “My lord, the food will be ready in less than an hour.” He looked pointedly at my dust covered c
lothes.
Aunt Ruth said, “You may leave the King with me. I shall not devour him!” The King smiled.
I felt exhausted as I headed to my chamber. It would be a relief not to have someone badgering me. I commanded everywhere, it seemed, save my own home. I had not even reached the door when Rebekah and my wife met me. My wife pushed my daughter towards me. “It is good to see you father.”
I hugged her. She smelled of rosemary. “This is the first real welcome I have had since I walked from the ferry.”
“And whose fault is that, Thomas? All you had to do was to send Mordaf to warn me. That is all. Come let me kiss you for I have missed you!” It was a heartfelt kiss and hug. When she pulled away she said, “Now ask you father so that he may bathe and change. He smells of sweat and horses!”
“Perhaps later?”
“Now, young lady!”
She sighed, “Father, Geoffrey FitzUrse has asked me to be his bride.”
I was about to say that he should have asked me first but I saw the fire in my wife’s eyes and so I smiled, “And that is good news. I have a dowry already picked out!”
“I know! Mother told me! Elton! I shall need to rebuild it. The manor has lain vacant for a generation!”
I shook my head and went into my chamber. My daughter’s plans would involve more expense. At least I might have a little peace. My wife came in and shook her head. “Sometimes, husband I wonder about you. Alfred was more than a little taken aback by your response. He was happy!”
“And I am pleased that they are both happy but there are ways of doing things. King Henry is not far down the road from being a child. I have managed to take him away from the three men who rule him so that I may shape the King into one who is more like Henry and less like John. I have been charged to do so by William Marshal.”
“And why cannot he do it?”
“He has served England and served her well. Besides, he is dying.”
Her hand went to her mouth. “I am sorry, I did not know. Does this mean you will be away?”
“Possibly but I thought to keep him here for as long as we could. The three members of the Council are more than capable of running England.”
“But will they do a good job?”
“I doubt it but set me one task at a time.”
“Come, you are a good man still and I will be the servant who prepares you for the feast.” She shook her head as she began to unfasten the mail. “I hope the King approves of the food we have prepared for him.”
“He will because it is new to him. He has lived at court. Thanks to his father and, I suspect, his mother, he knows little of the real world. William has been good for him. They get on well.”
She took the mail from me and then slipped the gambeson from me. When she removed my undershirt, she saw the bruises from my combats. “You have been fighting!”
“I am a warrior and we won.”
“I thought when Louis was defeated and King Alexander crept back to Scotland that we would have peace.”
“Lady Matilda is an example of what happens should we cease to be vigilant.” I was naked and I pulled her to my lap, “And I am pleased that she is safe and will be happy with my son. If he has half the wife I have…”
She looked down for I had been aroused, “Or half the man of his father. Come, I have missed you!”
When we finally dressed we had but bare moments to reach the Great Hall. Aunt Ruth gave me a wry smile. I wondered if she had some magical powers for she knew all that went on in my castle. The feast was a joyous one for we celebrated two engagements. Sir Geoffrey was not present but my family were and I saw the envy on the face of King Henry as he saw my four children all getting on so well. His family, like that of his father had always bickered and fought. As I retired I was hopeful that the internal strife which had beset the family of the King since the second King Henry might have been expunged with his father’s death.
Chapter 9
The settling of the north
When I left for the north I almost stripped Stockton of its defences. I left a skeleton garrison. The men I left, however, would be able to defend the castle if trouble flared and the King’s person was far more important. We went first to Durham. Richard Marsh was the Bishop. He was one of Prince John’s appointments. After the Bishop I had been forced to slay all others seemed good men. Richard Marsh was no exception. When I told him of the dowry I would be giving FitzUrse and my son he seemed quite happy. He did not fear me. He respected me for he knew that I was the knight who had defeated the Scots and kept his land safe. “I had planned on giving FitzUrse, Norham. Elton is good. You have my approval.”
The King got on well with him and the Bishop explained Carucage to him. Carucage was a medieval English land tax introduced by King Richard in eleven ninety-four. The young King turned to me, “Why did not Hubert de Burgh explain that to me? It was used in my name and yet I knew not what it was. When we were at Windsor one of the local lords asked me about it and I must have looked like some sort of village fool for I knew nothing.”
My daughter’s future husband, Sir Geoffrey, was amongst the knights who followed my banner. He wisely rode at the rear of the column. There were many reasons for that. He did not wish to inflame jealousy in his brother knights and he did not want to do anything foolish which might jeopardise the wedding.
Alfred rode behind King Henry and explained to King Henry why he though de Burgh had not told him all that he should have. “I fear, my lord, that there are many men such as that. I know for when we campaigned there were knights who took delight in seeing a squire confused and dismayed. I always preferred campaigning with knights of the valley. They did not try to humiliate me.” I looked in surprise at my son. He had never spoken of that.
King Henry said, “I envy you your spurs, Sir Alfred. Would that I had my own and like yours that they were earned.”
Every day saw a change in Henry. As we headed further north I grew more hopeful about England’s future. The Bishop gave us an escort of twenty of his knights for the journey to Prudhoe. William de Percy had acquired the castle and I felt it important that the King establish his authority. Prudhoe was a magnificent castle and had held out against the Scots twice. It guarded the Tyne. I would have been happier with another lord of the manor for I did not trust the Percys. The Bishop had told us that Sir Richard de Percy, the head of the family, had fought against King John but made his peace before the King died. He had had his manors returned to him and now lived in Topcliffe. If Sir Richard represented the past then his nephew, William, represented the future.
He gave us a warm greeting and that made me suspicious. He showed the King around the castle, pointing out the damage inflicted by the Scots. He had not been there. It had been in that campaign that Aunt Ruth’s husband had been killed. The young noble seemed to take credit for the sieges. I said nothing although the King looked impressed. On the journey north, we had spoken of how King Henry might approach the meeting. When we sat in his Great Hall I knew that I could say nothing for that would undermine the King’s authority.
“You have a fine castle here, Baron.”
“Thank you, majesty.”
“You have a noble tradition to uphold. The lords who defended the river from the Scots did so to preserve England.”
“Just so.” De Percy was almost preening himself.
“Your family however, along with the de Vesci clan, sought to profit from the French invasion and joined forces to fight against my father.” I saw the look of shock on the face of de Percy. He looked as though the King had slapped him in the face. “If it had not been for the Earl of Cleveland and the Bishop of Durham then who knows what the result might have been.”
“I am sorry, lord! Put it down to a misjudgement of youth.”
“Yet your uncle and de Vesci were not young.”
“I was led astray!”
“I am young and I know that I have much to learn but I would hope that I would not be so weak as to be eas
ily led astray. I will watch you, baron, for any signs of disloyalty and rebellion. I expect your taxes to be paid promptly and I expect a summons for a muster to be greeted with joy that you can serve England.”
“I swear that it shall be so.”
We left the next day. I complimented the King as we rode north for Norham. He shrugged, “I did what you advised but I confess that it was easier to speak your words than those put in my mouth by the Council. They mean well and they have England at their hearts but they are not you. You are England.” I nodded at the compliment. “So, what will we see in the north?”
“No rebels remain. De Vesci and de Percy were the last two. The Scots are ever close and my family has ensured that they do not risk our wrath. The purpose is for you to see the northern outpost of your land. It is as far north as you rule. London is so many leagues away as to be almost in another country. When you sit in the Great Hall at Windsor I would have you remember the men who defend your land.”
“That is a sobering thought.”
“Your standard flying from Norham’s keep will remind the Scots that the King of England regards the north as his land and that he has not forgotten it.”